So I’ve written about reading and books—I admit, without TV and only random internet access, books become very good and welcome entertainment (except for the husband, who is often trying to sleep). But, that being said, it has been a long time since I have taken my time, slowed down, and really read a book, earmarked its pages, and pondered specific excerpts.
Then along came a little tingle in my toes to reconsider my “spiritual” life. On a recent ski trip with my husband’s friends (and mine, of course, but in a different way) I was asked about my “faith journey” while sitting in the hot tub after a long day. It is not particularly in my nature to talk about and explore my thoughts on religion with just anyone, or really anyone at all, but especially not with a group of--certainly kind and good-intentioned-- but inherently different-from-me, folks.
While I shrugged the whole thing off at first, both the husband and I tend to think of ourselves as “stalled” in this journey, I did start to think about where I was “at.” I have long been interested in lots of faiths, both for their differences and their common threads. In particular, I have been drawn to Unitarian Universalism for a few years now without undertaking any kind of serious study of what that means exactly. So via the wonders of the internet, I ordered and received A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism.
And I earmarked it, underlined passages, and really read.
Now, I honestly did not intend for this blog to become anything more than some fun crafts and recipes and photos, so take from this entry what you will. BUT I will say this: go out and wholeheartedly read a book about something that tingles your toes. It might surprise you. It might take you on a journey that you were not expecting. I’ll see you there J
Thanks for listening… with your eyeballs, of course.
As many who know me might surmise, I love books. And yes, I realize that it might be more appropriate to say that I love reading books, but it is also accurate to say that I am fond of books in the physical sense. Over the years and many, many moves, I have parted ways with many a well-loved publication, but I am now getting to the point where there is no more downsizing to be had. I’m down to the few and the proud, an Emerson here, a Sig Olson there, no more shall part.
That being said, I do occasionally add to my small but adored collection. Last year, I read a few books for escape (and way too many books for graduate school!) and naturally found those at the magnificent thrift stores of Jackson Hole--- the nearest sizable town (i.e. they have chain stores) and about 75 miles away. If you have an adventuresome spirit, but not currently the means to plan THE BIG TRIP, you might pick up Constance Helmerick’s Down the Wild River North about a woman and her two daughters undertaking wild boating trips in the Arctic (true story) and the corresponding Arctic Daughter: A Wilderness Journey by one of the very same daughters, Jean Aspen, who ventures back to the same country to attempt living off the land in the Brooks Range. Of course, they were published in 1968 and 1988, respectively, so apologies if you can’t find them now that I’m told you all about them.
This year, reading has taken on a whole new meaning. Joining the gals from my office and other ladies in this small town, we have a nice little book club going. We meet once a month at a book club member’s home for nibbles and notions—a very nice escape from life’s other priorities. Just on month number 2, we’ve got two books under our wings, One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus and Don’t Lets Go To the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood by Alexandra (Bo) Fuller. Wonderful reads with different and engaging points of view from challenging and dynamic women!
In the name of sharing great reads, here is the rest of our reading list for the year:
The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
The Shack, by William Paul Young
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, by John Krakauer
The Reader, by Bernhard Schlink
Follow the River, by James Alexander Thom
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption, by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton
Won’t you join us?
Yay! The Farmer’s Market season is upon us! For some of you, this means an abundance of fruits and veggies, flowers, crafts, jams, honeys, and the like. For others of us, particularly in high altitude mountainous regions, this can be the onset of a kind of seasonal affective disorder that I like to call Acute Where the Heck are Real Strawberries Syndrome (AWHRSS). I know that you know what I’m talking about here, Wyomingites.
Lucky for us, the Pinedale Farmer’s Market Association is doing it right this summer. The Market is being moved to downtown and the city has agreed to shut down a portion of the street adjacent to the Visitor’s Center. It will run every Sunday from the end of May until possibly mid-October. But the best news to me is the fact that the most recent food regulations allow for some homemade goods to be made and sold without a license or use of a certified commercial kitchen! Hellloooo baked goods.
Knowing me, I immediately started brainstorming about potential goods to sell—from the vintage seed sack pillows and baby slippers to cookies to dog treats and beyond. You can bet that upcoming posts will explore different possibilities as I narrow down my wares…. and boy, am I grateful for all of the wonderfully crafty bloggers out there that provide little gems for my personal consideration. After all, the tagline of this blog is “Nifty Inspiration, Crafty Satisfaction.” Let’s do it—I’m looking for inspiration.
To find your local food sources and farmer's markets, check out Local Harvest.
I’m sure this is not the last time that I will say this, but it all started with a copy of Country Living magazine, which my mom kindly got me a subscription to for Christmas. And a sewing machine (thanks to the generosity of Don and Carol Ann for our wedding present). A recent pictorial about the different uses for vintage/antique feed and grain sacks really got my attention. (And the attention of others, no doubt.. Check out The Beautiful Life Blog for another source of craft envy.) Of course, I am fascinated and extremely appreciative our country’s (read: USA & Canada) agricultural heritage (talk about a Wendell Berry fan! Here I am!) and for whatever reason I found that incorporating the images of farms past is just a plain neat idea. Of course, this requires a certain amount of personal style that is not solely focused on monotone straight lines and smooth surfaces.
Hence, I began my adventure into pillows. Like any good adventure, I had to start at the beginning, namely, getting Brad to help me remember how to thread a bobbin. I know, my husband of all people. He can be a real asset. With the thread situation headed in the right direction (literally), I began the pillow adventure after a trip to Salt Lake City and a very inspiring trip to the IKEA store (CUTE fabric, but you can only buy it in stores).
But wait, let me back up. Country Living, in all of its evilness, had written that you can find vintage feed and seed sacks on Ebay. Having never used Ebay, I made an unfortunate and silly mistake--- bid on everything that you find that seems like it’s what you want and surely someone will eventually outbid you such that you will be left with only a few. Ha! I am now the proud owner of more sacks than I can currently keep up with!
Anyways, I tried my hand at a few practice pillows with the IKEA fabric and loved the results! There are wonderful tutorials on the web for making envelope-backed or otherwise no zipper or hand stitching pillows. Find some of them HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE (bolster pillow).
Of course, there are some basic tools that come in handy aside from the sewing machine. A rotary cutter is nice, a seam ripper is almost necessary (especially for undoing the bags), and a fabric cutting board and ruler really does make life easier.
This being my first real blog post, I now realize how wordy I am! For now, I will leave you will photos of my fun springtime pillows with IKEA fabric and embellishments that were sent to my sister and sister-in-law. Thanks, girls, for being pillow guinea pigs!
Upcoming posts: Pillow covers with tie closures, Sewing with burlap, Baby shoes, Soft pretzel baking experiment, food dehydrating, and more!
